Better Bargain food hygiene rating
Retailers - other · Sunderland
Better Bargain holds a 1: major improvement is necessary. The inspector found significant problems at the shop and the business is legally required to address them.
The rating: 1 - Major improvement necessary
The rating dates from 20 September 2024, 21 months ago. That is getting on for the longest gap councils usually leave, so the score may not reflect how the business is run today.
Address: 59 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, SR1 1SE
How it compares in Sunderland
A 1 is rare: only 23 of 1,946 rated places in Sunderland score this low, about one in 85. By contrast 84% of the borough holds a 5, so this is well below what the council's inspectors normally find.
| 5 out of 5 | 1,634 | 84% | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 193 | 10% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 74 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 20 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 23 | 1% | ← Better Bargain | |
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 365 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Major improvement necessary
- How well they manage food safety Major improvement necessary
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At Better Bargain the inspector recorded concerns over the condition of the premises and confidence in management. Because the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, that is what holds the score down.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to Better Bargain, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admiral Retailers - other | 80 yards away | 5 - Very good | 1 August 2018 |
| Boba Cat Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 December 2023 |
| Ashbrooke Home Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 93 yards away | 5 - Very good | 25 October 2025 |
| Amy's Winehouse Retailers - other | 98 yards away | 5 - Very good | 14 October 2024 |
| 21 Social Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 100 yards away | 5 - Very good | 26 November 2025 |
| Betsy Jenny Counselling And Wellbeing Cafe Takeaway/sandwich shop | 123 yards away | 5 - Very good | 27 November 2025 |
| Batch'd Retailers - other | 157 yards away | 5 - Very good | 6 July 2023 |
| Admiral Retailers - other | 237 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 October 2018 |
Questions about Better Bargain
What is Better Bargain's food hygiene rating?
Better Bargain has a food hygiene rating of 1 out of 5 (major improvement necessary), given by Sunderland Council on 20 September 2024.
Is Better Bargain safe to eat at?
A 1 means the inspector found problems the business is required to fix. The shop is not shut down, a rating is not a closure order, but standards were found to be below what the law expects at the time of inspection.
When was Better Bargain last inspected?
Better Bargain was last inspected on 20 September 2024, 21 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Sunderland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at Better Bargain?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "major improvement necessary", and confidence in the management of food safety "major improvement necessary". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does Better Bargain compare to other places in Sunderland?
84% of the 1,946 rated food businesses in Sunderland hold the top rating of 5, while Better Bargain holds a 1. 23 places in the area share that rating.
Who decides the rating?
Sunderland Council inspects Better Bargain and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch Better Bargain and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
Free, for three businesses, forever. No password, we send you a link. How rating alerts work →
Is this your business?
A rating of 1 is public, and most customers look. Only 18% of people say they would order from a business rated 2 or below, against 94% from one rated 4. Delivery platforms may decline to list you.
We cannot change this rating, and nor can you. It was set by an environmental health officer at Sunderland, and it stands until they inspect again. What you can do:
- Fix what the inspector found, then ask the council for a re-inspection. Most charge between £120 and £316, and will not re-visit within three months of the original inspection.
- If you believe the rating is simply wrong, you have 21 days from being notified to appeal to the council. That is 21 calendar days, not working days.
- You may submit a right to reply at any time. It is published alongside the rating, here, and on the FSA's own site.
What a low rating means → · How re-inspections and appeals work →
Your council: Sunderland
Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
Sunderland inspects and rates 2,311 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Sunderland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.sunderland.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →